Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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.
PROCESS FOR REMOVING PESTICIDES FROM GINKGO BILOBA
EXTRACTS, AND EXTRACTS OBTAINABLE BY SAID PROCESS
The present invention relates to a process for removing pesticides from
Ginkgo biloba extracts, and the extracts obtainable by said process.
Background
Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts have long been used in Chinese traditional
medicine and in numerous Western countries due to the multiple
pharmacological properties attributed to the components of said extracts
(vasodilating, immunostimulating, antioxidant and antiaggregant properties).
Processes for the preparation of Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts are
disclosed in US 5700468, EP 360 556, EP 431 535 and JP 09110713.
Pesticides such as organophosphates, the toxicity of which is well
documented, have been employed in the cultivation of the plants used to
produce said extracts, especially in the past. Although many health and
agricultural authorities have banned or restricted the use of such pesticides,
it
is not always easy to establish the origin of plant material, and even in
countries where the use of pesticides is regulated, it is impossible to rule
out
unlawful or improper use of substances with pesticidal action, whose presence
in the pharmaceutical or nutritional grade extract is wholly undesirable. A
particularly insidious problem is possible cross-contamination from pesticides
originating from nearby crops.
The problem of contamination in general is discussed in the Journal of
AOAC International, Vol. 88(3), 2005, 729-735, which also describes a
method for the determination of the organophosphate pesticide content of
Ginkgo leaves by gas chromatography.
US 5,660,832 discloses a general process for purifying plant extracts of
pesticides, comprising extraction with a polar solvent in a specific pH range,
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,
followed by absorption and deabsorption on resins. In the case of Ginkgo
biloba leaves, the extraction is performed with a mixture of ethanol and
water.
Pesticides are not the only undesirable contaminants in Ginkgo biloba
extracts: for example, EP 1 968 625 describes a multi-step preparation method
of a Ginkgo biloba extract with a low content of 4'-0-methyl pyridoxine, also
known as ginkgo toxin, and/or biflavones. In this case, however, the
undesirable components are naturally present in the plant.
Finally, EP 1 868 626 discloses a method of preparing Ginkgo biloba
extracts having a low content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons deriving
from the use of fossil fuels close to Ginkgo crops. The process described is
highly complex, comprising eleven steps, long preparation times and the use
of expensive reagents such as polyamides, or toxic reagents such as lead
salts.
Practically all the known processes involve one or more steps of
removal of the lipophilic components of the Ginkgo extract (in particular
biflavones and ginkgols). Said extraction also reduces any lyophilic pesticide
content present, while pesticides with higher polarity remain in the extract,
as
their behaviour is more similar to that of the hydrophilic components (such as
flavone glycosides and terpenes).
There is consequently a need for a convenient purification method
which reduces or eliminates pesticides or other pollutants from Ginkgo biloba
leaf extracts in order to comply with the limits imposed by the legislation,
especially in the USA, governing the residual content of any type of pesticide
in products of plant origin for pharmaceutical, nutritional or cosmetic use.
Summary
Certain exemplary embodiments provide a process for removing
pesticides from a Ginkgo biloba extract, which comprises subjecting said
extract to the following steps: a) liquid-liquid extraction of the extract
with a
water-immiscible solvent selected from esters, chlorinated hydrocarbons,
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, mixtures of hydrocarbons and alcohols, ketones and mixtures of
ketones and
alcohols, to obtain a fraction containing ginkgo terpenes and pesticides not
removable with hexane, and a fraction containing ginkgo flavone glycosides;
b) crystallisation of ginkgo terpenes in mixtures of water and C1-C3 alcohols
from the fraction containing ginkgo terpenes and pesticides not removable
with hexane obtained at step a) to give an intermediate with a ginkgolide
content of not less than 50% w/w; c) crystallisation in water or in a mixture
of
water and C1-C3 alcohols from the residual solution obtained at step b) to
give an intermediate with a bilobalide content of not less than 50% w/w; d)
mixing of the fraction containing ginkgo flavone glycosides obtained at step
a)
with the ginkgo terpene intermediate and bilobalide intermediate obtained at
steps b) and c).
Description of selected embodiments
It has now been found that the pesticide content of Ginkgo biloba
extracts can be reduced by a process comprising:
a) liquid-liquid extraction of the extract to obtain a
medium polarity
fraction containing ginkgo terpenes and pesticides not removable
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with hexane, and a high polarity fraction containing ginkgo
flavone glycosides;
b) crystallisation from the medium polarity fraction obtained at step
a) to give an intermediate with a ginkgolide content of not less
than 50%;
c) crystallisation from the residual solution obtained at step b) to give
an intermediate with a bilobalide content of not less than 50%;
d) mixing of the high polarity fraction obtained at step a) with the
ginkgo terpene intermediate and bilobalide intermediate obtained
at steps b) and c).
The process of the invention, in addition to eliminating or substantially
reducing the residual pesticide content, also allows the content of ginkgo
terpenes and their relative ratio to be controlled.
The invention therefore also relates to extracts obtainable from the
process described above, with a pre-determined ratio of ginkgo terpenes.
According to the invention, step a) produces one fraction enriched with
ginkgo terpenes and one enriched with ginkgo flavone glycosides by
extraction with a water-immiscible solvent selected from esters, chlorinated
hydrocarbons, mixtures of hydrocarbons and alcohols, ketones and mixtures of
ketones and alcohols, preferably a C2-C8 ester, such as ethyl acetate and t-
butyl acetate or a toluene-butanol mixture.
The ginkgo terpenes are crystallised in water and Cl-CS alcohol
mixtures, while the crystallisation from the terpene-rich fraction obtained at
step c) is performed in water or a mixture of water and C 1 -C3 alcohols.. The
process according to the invention eliminates medium-polarity pesticides
which are not removed with the ginkgols.
The invention is illustrated in greater detail in the examples below.
Example 1: Purification of the extract produced according to
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example I in US 5700468 and EP 0 360 556 (Indena)
1) 100 kg of chopped leaves is extracted 4 times with 400 1 of 60%
(w/w) acetone at a temperature of approx. 50 C.
2) The combined percolates are extracted in countercurrent with 500 1
of hexane.
3) The defatted solution is concentrated under vacuum to a volume of
200 1, left overnight at 2 C, and then centrifuged to separate the biflavone
fraction.
4) The aqueous solution is extracted in countercurrent with 400 1 of an
8/2 v/v mixture of n-butanol/toluene.
5) The organic solution is concentrated under vacuum to a small
volume, substituting with water. The concentrate is taken up with water to
obtain a solution with approx. 30% of dry residue.
6) The solution is extracted in countercurrent with approx. 65 1 of ethyl
acetate. The aqueous phase is concentrated to a syrup-like consistency and
dried under vacuum, to obtain an intermediate enriched with ginkgo flavone
glycosides and devoid of terpenes (1.95 kg).
7) The ethyl acetic phase is concentrated under vacuum to a syrup-like
consistency, and the residue is taken up with 3 1 of 75% aqueous ethanol.
8) The solution is extracted in countercurrent with 20 1 of hexane,
eliminating the combined organic phases.
9) The water-alcohol solution is concentrated under vacuum to a syrup-
like consistency, and 0.9 1 of 50% aqueous ethanol is added.
The resulting solution is reflux heated under stirring, then cooled to
room temperature and left to crystallise for 4 days.
10) The solution is then filtered and the solid washed with 50% Et0H
and dried under vacuum, to obtain 95 g of purified ginkgolides.
11) The mother liquor is concentrated under vacuum to eliminate the
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ethanol, and the residue is then taken up with 1.9 1 of water and heated to
90 C under stirring for 30 minutes. The aqueous solution is separated, and the
residue is taken up 3 more times with 1.9 1 of water at 90 C, the aqueous
solution being recovered every time.
5 12) The aqueous solutions are combined and extracted in countercurrent
with 14 1 of hexane.
13) The aqueous solution is concentrated to a volume of 0.3 1; 0.1 1 of
95 Et0H is then added, and the solution is heated to 50 C under stirring,
then
cooled to room temperature and left to crystallise for 3 days.
14) The solution is filtered and the solid is washed with 20% Et0H and
dried under vacuum to obtain 103 g of purified bilobalide.
15) The products obtained in points 6, 10 and 14 are mixed to give
2.15 kg of Ginkgo biloba extract with the following characteristics: ginkgo
flavone glycosides 26.0%; bilobalide 3.2%; ginkgolides 3.5%; ginkgolic acids
<5.0 ppm; each pesticide < 10 ppb.
Example 2: Purification of the extract produced as described in
example II of US 5700468, EP 0 360 556 (Indena)
1) 100 kg of chopped leaves is extracted 4 times with 400 1 of 50%
(w/w) methanol at the temperature of approx. 35 C.
2) The combined percolates are concentrated to 100 1 under vacuum at
40 C, the concentrate is taken up with 100 1 of methanol, and the suspension
obtained is filtered.
3) The filtered solution is extracted 3 times with 100 1 of a 9:2 mixture
of toluene/n-butanol.
4) The combined organic phases are counterwashed with 50 1 of 50%
methanol.
5) The water-methanol solutions are concentrated under vacuum to an
aqueous solution and, after filtration, are extracted with an 8:2 mixture of
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n-butanol/toluene.
6) The organic solution is counterwashed with water and concentrated
under vacuum to a small volume, substituting with water. The solution is
taken up with water to obtain a solution with a dry residue of 20%.
7) The resulting solution is extracted in countercurrent with 90 1 of a
1:1 mixture of n-butanol/toluene. The aqueous phase is concentrated to a
syrup-like consistency and dried under vacuum to obtain an intermediate
enriched with ginkgo flavone glycosides and devoid of terpenes (2.05 kg).
8) The n-butanol/toluene mixture is concentrated under vacuum to a
syrup-like consistency, and the residue is taken up with 3.5 1 of 60% aqueous
ethanol.
9) The resulting solution is extracted in countercurrent with 20 1 of
hexane, eliminating the combined organic phases.
10) The water-alcohol solution is concentrated under vacuum to a
syrup-like consistency, and 1.2 1 of 40% aqueous ethanol is added.
The resulting solution is reflux heated under stirring for 45 minutes,
then cooled to room temperature and left to crystallise for 3-4 days.
11) The solution is then filtered and the solid washed with 40% Et0H
and dried under vacuum, to obtain 97 g of purified ginkgolides.
12) The mother liquor is concentrated under vacuum to eliminate the
ethanol, and the residue is then taken up with 2 1 of water and heated at 90 C
under stirring for 30 minutes. The aqueous solution is separated, and the
residue is taken up 3 more times with 2 1 of water at 90 C, the aqueous
solution being recovered every time.
13) The aqueous solutions are combined and extracted in countercurrent
with 17 1 of hexane.
14) The aqueous solutions are concentrated to a volume of 0.4 1, and
0.15 1 of 95 Et0H is added; the resulting solution is heated at 50-55 C under
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stirring for 30 minutes, then cooled to room temperature and left to
crystallise
for 3-4 days.
15) The solution is filtered and the solid is washed with 20% Et0H and
dried under vacuum at 60 C to obtain 110 g of purified bilobalide.
16) The products obtained in points 7, 11 and 15 are mixed to give 2.26
kg of Ginkgo biloba extract similar to that obtained in example 1.
Example 3: Purification of the extract produced according to
example I in EP 431 535 (Schwabe)
1) 100 kg of chopped leaves is extracted twice with 750 kg of 60%
(w/w) acetone for 30 mins at the temperature of 57-59 C.
2) The combined extracts are concentrated to an aqueous solution with a
dry residue of 30-40%, an equal volume of water is added, and the mixture is
left under stirring for one hour at 12 C.
3) The alkylphenol-rich precipitate is separated by centrifugation and
eliminated.
4) 30% of ammonium sulphate is added to the clarified solution under
stirring, and the solution is extracted twice with half a volume of a 6:4
mixture
of methyl ethyl ketone/acetone.
5) The combined methyl ethyl ketone/acetone solutions are
concentrated under vacuum to a dry residue of 50-70%, and then diluted with
water and 95% ethanol to obtain a 50% ethanol solution with a dry residue of
10%.
6) An aqueous solution of lead hydroxide acetate is added under stirring
until the colour changes from brown to light brown. The precipitate obtained
is eliminated by centrifugation.
7) The centrifuged solution is extracted 3 times with 1/3 volume of
hexane.
8) The defatted solution is concentrated to an aqueous solution under
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vacuum, and 20% of ammonium sulphate is added and extracted twice with
half a volume of a 6:4 mixture of methyl ethyl ketone/ethanol. The combined
organic phases are washed with 20% of ammonium sulphate, removing any
water and solid formed.
9) The clear solution is then concentrated under vacuum to a small
volume, substituting with water.
The concentrate is taken up with water to obtain a solution with approx.
10% of dry residue.
10) The solution is extracted in countercurrent with approx. 100 1 of t-
butyl acetate. The aqueous phase is concentrated to a syrup-like consistency
and dried under vacuum to obtain an intermediate enriched with ginkgo
flavone glycosides and devoid of terpenes (1.88 kg).
11) The butyl acetic phase is concentrated under vacuum to a syrup-like
consistency, and 0.8 1 of 60% aqueous ethanol is added.
The resulting solution is reflux heated under stirring for 25 minutes,
then cooled to room temperature and left to crystallise for 2 days.
12) The solution is then filtered and the solid washed with 60% Et0H
and dried under vacuum, to obtain 98 g of purified ginkgolides.
13) The mother liquor is concentrated under vacuum to eliminate the
ethanol, and the residue is then taken up with 1.9 1 of water and heated at 90
C
under stirring for 30 minutes. The aqueous solution is separated, and the
residue is taken up 3 more times with 1.9 1 of water at 90 C, the aqueous
solution being recovered every time.
14) The combined aqueous solutions are concentrated to a volume of
0.6 1 and heated to 70 C, under stirring, for 60 minutes, then cooled to room
temperature and left to crystallise for 1 day.
15) The resulting solution is filtered and the solid is washed with water
and dried under vacuum to obtain 99 g of purified bilobalide.
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16) The products obtained in points 10, 12 and 15 are mixed to give
2.08 kg of Ginkgo biloba extract similar to that obtained in example 1.
Example 4: Purification of extract produced according to
JP 09110713 (Nippon Green wave)
1) 100 kg of chopped ginkgo leaves is extracted 3 times with 500 1 of
70% ethanol at 50 C for 30 hours.
2) The combined percolates are concentrated to 100 1 under vacuum and
the concentrate is taken up with 100 1 of water.
The suspension obtained is filtered.
3) The filtered solution is introduced into a chromatography column
containing 100 1 of HP20 resin (Mitsubishi) to adsorb the extract. The column
is then washed with 200 1 of water, and the extract is recovered by eluting
with 200 1 of 70% ethanol.
4) The water-ethanol solution is concentrated under vacuum to a small
volume, substituting with water. The concentrate is taken up with 20% ethanol
to obtain a solution with a dry residue of 20%.
5) The resulting solution is extracted in countercurrent with 70 1 of
methylene chloride. The water-ethanol phase is concentrated to a syrup-like
consistency and dried under vacuum to obtain an intermediate enriched with
ginkgo flavone glycosides and devoid of terpenes (2.4 kg).
6) The chloromethylene phase is concentrated under vacuum to a syrup-
like consistency, and the residue is taken up with 4 1 of 75% aqueous
methanol.
7) The resulting solution is extracted 10 times with 2 1 of hexane,
eliminating the combined hexane phases.
8) The water-alcohol solution is concentrated under vacuum to a syrup-
like consistency, and 11 of 50% aqueous methanol is added.
The resulting solution is reflux heated under stirring for 30 minutes,
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then cooled to room temperature and left to crystallise for 5 days.
9) The solution is then filtered and the solid washed with 50% Me0H
and dried under vacuum, to obtain 105 g of purified ginkgolides.
10) The mother liquor is concentrated under vacuum to eliminate the
5 methanol, and the residue is then taken up with 2 1 of water and heated
at 90 C
under stirring for 30 minutes. The aqueous solution is separated, and the
residue is taken up 3 more times with 2 1 of water at 90 C, the aqueous
solution being recovered every time.
11) The combined aqueous solutions are concentrated to a volume of
10 0.4 1, and 0.1 1 of Me0H is added; the resulting solution is heated at
50 C
under stirring for 30 minutes, then cooled to room temperature and left to
crystallise for 3 days.
12) The resulting solution is filtered and the solid is washed with 20%
Me0H and dried under vacuum to obtain 102 g of purified bilobalide.
13) The products obtained in points 5, 9 and 12 are mixed to give 2.6 kg
of Ginkgo biloba extract similar to that obtained in example 1.
Example 5: Purification of a purified extract containing pesticides
with a high terpene content
1) 1 kg of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract containing 24% of ginkgo flavone
glycosides, 12% of ginkgo terpenes, 2 ppm of ginkgolic acids and 315 ppb of
chlorpyrifos and tricyclazole is suspended under stirring in 5 1 of water.
2) The suspension is extracted 12 times with 5 1 of ethyl acetate at room
temperature. The aqueous phase is then concentrated to a syrup-like
consistency and dried under vacuum to obtain an intermediate enriched with
ginkgo flavone glycosides and devoid of terpenes (810 g).
3) The combined ethyl acetic phases are concentrated under vacuum to
a syrup-like consistency, and the residue is taken up with 2 1 of 50% aqueous
ethanol.
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The resulting solution is reflux heated under stirring for 1 hour, then
cooled to room temperature and left to crystallise for 2 days.
4) The solution is then filtered and the solid washed with 50% Et0H
and dried under vacuum, to obtain 82 g of purified ginkgolides.
5) The mother liquor is concentrated under vacuum to eliminate the
ethanol, and the residue is then taken up with 2 1 of water and heated at 90 C
under stirring for 15 minutes. The aqueous solution is separated, and the
residue is taken up a second time with 2 1 of water at 90 C, the aqueous
solution being recovered.
6) The aqueous solutions are combined and concentrated under vacuum
to a syrup-like consistency; the residue is then taken up with 400 ml of 10%
Et0H. The resulting solution is heated at 50 C under stirring for 60 minutes,
then cooled to room temperature and left to crystallise for 2 days.
7) The solution is filtered and the solid is washed with 10% Et0H and
dried under vacuum to obtain 70 g of purified bilobalide.
8) 41 g of purified ginkgolides and 35 g of purified bilobalide are mixed
with the product obtained in point 2 to give 885 g of Ginkgo biloba extract
with the following characteristics: a. ginkgo flavone glycosides 27%;
b. ginkgo terpenes 6.8%; c. ginkgolic acids 1.0 ppm; d. each pesticide < 10
ppb.
The process described removes the pesticides and allows the terpene
content of the Ginkgo biloba extracts to be controlled, adjusting it as
required
at the step when the purified intermediates are mixed. In practice, the 24/6
ratio (GFG/GT) considered ideal in the extracts often differs from the natural
ratio encountered in the plants. For example, Chinese leaves often have a
higher terpene content, and a ginkgo terpene titre reduction step is required
to
obtain conforming extracts.
The table below shows the pesticide contents of extracts obtained
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according to the procedures described above. Two tests were conducted for
each example: the procedure disclosed in the patent was exactly followed in
the first, and treatment of the terpene fraction was added in the second.
All the extracts were obtained from the same plant.
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Example 1 - Ref. Indena Example 2 - Ref. Indena Example 3 -
Ref. Schwabe Example 4 - Ref. Nippon 1--,
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EP 0 3600 556 Bl; EP 0 3600 556 Bl; EP 0 431 535
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85 <10 55 <10 63
<10 212 <10
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Acetamiprid
24 <10 16 <10 27
<10 92 <10 n
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48 <10 37 <10 45
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